this can't be happening to me...

[acel0777]

Hi, I am in my first year of nursing school, on my way to get my PN license in December. I plan to go to second year for RN. Nursing is something i wanted to do ever since I could remember (5 yrs old) and getting accepted into the program was something i'm so proud of. Two weeks ago (while in the middle of my clinical rotation for summer) my doctor suspected i have autoimmune hepatitis. I had a liver biopsy done today and i will know the results in about a week. I AM SOOOO SCARED. i wonder how it will affect my career. How will i be able to take care of others who are sick when my immune system is compromised??? right now i am hurting from the biopsy but worse i am hurting and depressed inside. making it as a nurse is very important to me and i am almost there...why could this be happening now??? i do believe everything happens for a reason, but i just need some encouragement right now. are there any nurses out there with some advice? i still plan on going all the way with my career. i just need to find a way to cope right now...

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It must be very hard hearing this news and having to wait.

Having an auto-immune disorder doesn't necessarily mean your imimune system is compromised and you will get sick from things other people have. Auto-immune disorders are when your body attacks itself for some reason, so being around sick doesn't necessarily mean you're immune system can't handle it.

However, getting sick with any kind of disease is going to affect your immune system and naturally your general health. If your general health stays good there's probably no reason you can't continue on with your dream.

I would first wait for the diagnosis, then educate your self on what it is you have, and then discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Hang in there. We nurses are human beings dealing with all kinds of human conditions our selves and many of us are functioning nurses.

The most important thing is your own. Never compromise your health to be a nurse. It's not worth it. The stress of nursing school and nursing is enough to wear down a healthy person. Stress can sometimes exacerbate an auto-immune disorder.